Happy 68th Birthday Dad!

So today is my dad's birthday. The picture above shows him with all 3 grandchildren.

My dad is the best dad in the world. He has helped me through so much and supported me in everything I have done or tried to do. Besides all of that he is just plain fun! So in honor of dad "Old Guys Rule!"

One of My Favorite Things....

This is one of my favorite curios. I love the idea of two people sitting down to tea and enjoying themselves. I love the homey feeling I get when I look at this. I also love the chickens on the mantle!

Royal Wedding

OK OK I will admit it. I am an unabashed anglophile. I love all things British. I could not wait to see the royal wedding this morning.

I woke up a little before 6am and began with Kate leaving her hotel with her dad. I savored every wave, every smile, every flag waving, crowd cheering part of it. I started getting panicky because I had agreed to sub today.

I showered in between the I Dos and hymn singing. I dressed in between hymns and sermons. I sat at the edge of my couch trying to gauge how fast I could realistically get down the GSP to Lincroft. How many lights would really be red once I got onto 520? I didn't really need to eat breakfast, or make lunch -- but I did need my am tea. Right - 3 minutes to get the tea. My daughter convinced me to wait a bit longer, "Until they get in the carriage mom."

Kate and Wills walked down the aisle got into the carriage and... I was off! Down the GSP in record time. Down 520 and into the parking lot in a blur. I signed in ran upstairs and the other teachers had the TV on. I was just in time to watch them arrive at Buckingham Palace.

I fiddled with the screen in my classroom and voila (or ta da)! When my first class came in we were able to see the royal couple come out onto the balcony and the 2 royal first kisses!

I absolutely loved it all. Her dress was so Grace Kelly-like. Simple yet stunning. She was beautiful. he looked like he was just beaming from head to toe. It just warms the heart to see all that happiness.

The Chocolate Diaries by Karen Scalf Linamen

Reading this book was like sitting down with a great group of girlfriends. You know, getting the advice that you need? Maybe you don't want to hear it - but they are your girlfriends so they are going to tell it to you straight. Karen Scalf Linamen has just become one of my new girlfriends. (She may not know it yet - but she has). I read through her whole book and then went back and reread portions that I really needed to let sink in. "Living with paradox is like rowing a boat",and because I am a list lover , her whole chapter"Want Sweet Change? Put it on Your List" was a definite reread for me. Not only did I enjoy her real life advice - but her techniques for eating and enjoying chocolate, as well as her recipes just add to the delightful book.

This book is available through Waterbrook Press. ISBN#978-1-4000-7402-0.

What Do I Do During Thunderstorms? Bake!

I don't know about you but I bake during major thunderstorms. It was humid as anything today but when the baking bug bites one must scratch! (Or bake from scratch). Today was the mini donuts.

I dragged out all the ingredients.

Put all the dry together.

Put all the wet together.

Mixed them up.

Put them in the very small donut pan.

Put them in the oven for 10 minutes.

Took them out and let them cool.

Made the orange glaze.

Dipped the donuts in the glaze.

Let them dry and then yummo!

I posted this recipe earlier on my blog as

Buttermilk Donuts. They are delicious.

Getting the Garden Ready

The pictures below are of my garden, or actually getting the garden ready for planting. You can also see my trusty composter at the top! Can't wait for the weather to get a bit warmer so I can plant my seedlings.

New Pictures - Getting the Garden Ready